The $1,500 Grocery Run

Island supermarkets carry everything you need, but a box of cereal is $9, a block of cheddar is $12, and the produce was picked two weeks ago. You need a strategy.

The Three Approaches

1. Full Base Provisioning (The Easy, Expensive Way)

You tick boxes on a PDF, and the charter company loads the boat before you arrive. It costs roughly $40-$50 per person, per day. The quality is average, and you will end up with 4 jars of mustard you didn't want. Best for: Crews arriving late who want to leave the dock immediately.

2. Local Supermarket (The Standard Way)

You take a taxi to the local Riteway or Super U. You will spend 3 hours shopping and loading. It will cost ~$25-$35 per person, per day. Best for: Most crews.

3. The Hybrid Approach (The Smart Way)

Bring high-value, hard-to-find items in a soft duffel bag from home (spices, vacuum-sealed quality meats frozen solid, specialty coffee). Buy heavy items (water, beer, canned goods) via a local delivery service directly to the boat. Go to the market only for fresh produce and bread.

The Water Equation

A catamaran holds roughly 150-200 gallons of water. If you do not have a watermaker, you will run out in 3 days if you take "Hollywood showers."

You must buy drinking water. Do not drink from the boat's tanks.
Rule of thumb: 1 gallon of drinking water per person, per day.

Provisioning Budget Estimator

Number of Crew (Including Skipper if applicable)

Days on Charter

Provisioning Style

Alcohol Consumption

Common Mistakes

Mistake	The Reality
Buying soft fruits	Peaches, berries, and bananas rot in 48 hours in the tropics. Buy apples and citrus.
Overestimating fridge space	A 45ft cat has the fridge space of a college dorm. You cannot fit 4 cases of beer inside at once.